Nagara Sabha is constituted on the basis of population of the city or town. According to Karnataka municipal act 1964 for every city with population of 50,000 to 3,00,000 city municipal council is constituted. Towns with population of 20,000 to 50,000 town municipalities are constituted. The members of Nagara Sabha are directly elected by the residense of the town and cities directly for a period of 5 years.

Following are the general functions:

• Management of administration of the corporation. 
• Preparation of budget. 
• Seek approval of budget. 
• Compulsory functions of corporation. 
• Construction and conservation of public roads and streets. 
• Providing electricity to public roads, streets, and markets. 
• Making arrangements for conservancy, drainage, and removal of garbage. 
• Providing safe drinking water and waste for other purposes. 
• Naming and numbering of roads. 
• Construction and maintenance of public markets. 
• Prevent diseases through an effective public health system. 
• Control over the construction of buildings through an effective clearance system.
• Prevent the adulteration of food products, milk, and pharmaceuticals. 
• Registration and maintenance of birth and death records. 
• Establishment and maintenance of primary schools. 
• Planting and conservation of saplings. 
• Construction and maintenance of public gardens and play grounds. 
• Construction and maintenance of burial grounds. 
• Protection of public property and public monuments.

Optional functions: Optional functions are discretionary in nature. They can be undertaken only if the time and money permits. The following are the optional functions of the corporations.

• Establishment of an efficient transport system. 
• Establish associations for the welfare of orphans and the destitute. 
• Establishment and maintenance of child welfare centers.
• Construction and conservation of swimming pools and bathing ghats. 
• Conduct surveys of land and buildings. 
• Construction and maintenance of museums, art galleries, and gardens with distinct plants. 
• Establishment and maintenance of hospitals for animals. 
• Raise money for providing relief during natural calamities such as earthquake, drought, etc., 
• Improve slums by developing them. 
• Construct houses for the poor, homeless and the destitute. 
• Construction and maintenance of water troughs for animals. 
• Support environment conservation programmes through the planting trees etc.